Prince Albert (Saskatchewan) on the map. National Park Prince Albert ( Saskatchewan ) on the Map of Canada

Below: Prince Albert is a sanctuary for the striking white pelican. In recent years, a number of colonies throughout their range have been destroyed by man's presence.

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Established: 1927 Acreage: 957,440

Prince Albert National Park lies in central Saskatchewan, where prairie gradually gives way to the lake country of the north. The park's unique quality is determined mostly by its position halfway between Canada's south and north. The park's gently rolling terrain is a mosaic of spruce bogs, large, cold lakes and aspen uplands.

Wildlife populations reflect the changing vegetation. Moose, wolves, caribou and loons capture the essence of the northern forests. Elk, deer and badger inhabit the aspen parkland. Black bear, beaver, red fox and a small herd of free-roaming bison also make their home in the park. This diversity of animals makes wildlife watching a favorite visitor pastime, and a drive along one of the park roads or a hike through the woods at dawn or dusk may provide a glimpse of one of the park's inhabitants.

The park also contains a breeding colony of white pelicans on Lavalee Lake (historically known as Pelican Lake). The fourth largest pelican breeding colony in Canada, it is the only colony protected within a national park. Pelicans require an undisturbed area for breeding, and in recent years a number of their colonies have been destroyed by human disturbance. Access to the lake is strictly controlled during the spring and summer months to ensure that this impressive species continues.

In addition to the pelican, the park protects some of the last remaining fescue grasslands found in North America. Outside of national parks, very little fescue grasslands remain in their unaltered state. Roughly 90 percent of these grasslands have been altered by ploughing, mowing or haying.

World acclaimed naturalist Grey Owl lived at Beaver Lodge on Ajawaan Lake. It was here that he raised Jellyroll and Rawhide, the beaver pair Grey Owl immortalized in his writings. Grey Owl was born Archibald Belaney in Hastings in Sussex County, England. In 1905, as a child, he moved to Canada and lived the life of an Indian in the Temagami and Biscotasing areas of Ontario. Following the publication of his

articles, Grey Owl was employed by the National Parks Service of Canada to promote public interest in conservation. After his death in 1938, his pet beavers were returned to the wild, and later reports revealed an increase in the beaver population in the Ajawaan Lake area.

In 1690 the fur trade in Saskatchewan began. Although the park area played a role as a prime hunting ground, it was bypassed by the early explorers because the main waterways, the Churchill and Saskatchewan Rivers, passed north and south of the region. Not until other areas had been exploited did trappers and traders move into the vicinity.

Prince Albert (Saskatchewan) on the map. National Park Prince Albert ( Saskatchewan ) on the Map of Canada